Originally posted by Tamia:[QB] Ok, I'd like to give sneaking a try. Do I have to take it off of "Run" to get more in the sneak skill? I'm always in run mode and when I try sneaking I can't ever seem to increase my skill. Can I just walk around sneaking to increase it?/QB]

The SG says the sneak skill increases most when you are sneaking around and there is someone there who may detect it. Just follow a guard around town and sneak is supposed to do it. I found that sneak increases very fast when you are exploring a ruin or cave.

Light armor - robes and light shoes or none is definitely the way to go at first. An expert can run in sneak without too much chance of detection. My sneak skill is now 100% so I have had enemies run right past me in a cave after being shot and they still can't find me.

I'm only ever in run mode when travelling. I hate trying to fight and realising the reason I can't hit anything is that I'm still running as well.

I've been buying houses and am trying to figure out which one I like best. For those who want to invest in a little real estate:

The mansion in Anvil is nice, but has a creepy basement. The house is Bruma is cosy but sort of plain, like a cottage. The house in Leyawin was a huge disappointment - it's a rathole, even fully decorated and at large expense I might add. Whoo! High property values there. For that price I was expecting one of the nicer places.

The mansion in Chorrol is lovely, as is the large house in Cheydinhal. I'm going to see what I can get in Skindgrad. I hesitate to invest in a home by the sewers in Bravil, but I might as well check it out since I'm on a buying spree.

So far my favourite is Cheydinhal. It's at once cosy and luxurious. And a heck of a lot nicer than sleeping in the Brotherhood (now renamed Sisterhood) cellars.

Have just spent 2 game days on Fort Grief. Searched every nook and cranny above ground - and searched all around the perimeter under water. Dashed if I can find a way in - and the gate is locked.

The S.G suggests I should kill three hunters and take the key to the gate from them. Obviously there must be a hidey-hole somewhere on the isle and it is not showing itself.

While you lads and lasses over the Big Pond are still sleeping I think I might re-load and search everywhere wearing my Life detect gauntlets. Have a strong feeling the entrance might be beneath the waves.

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Angels are friends who lift you off your feet when your wings have forgotten how to fly.

Is that the one where you are supposed to go and find out what happened to the woman's husband? If so, when you get there you have to open the gate via a switch found on the island. I think it's to the left. Inside you'll talk to the missing husband. You'll find the 3 hunters inside the ruins one by one.

Edited to say: Once you leave the island, DO NOT teleport yourself back. Always take the boat. I teleported myself back once, and the game wouldn't let me teleport myself off. I had to go back to a saved game.

I'm taking a break from shutting Oblivion gates and looking for Shadowbane wine instead. Man, it's so relaxing to go into a fort and only face Conjurers, Necromancers or ordinary undead for a bit ! I picked up my first two bottles during the Fort Grief quest (the bane of Alice ) and just found my second two bottles at another fort east of Bravil. One more fort and I can go claim my reward. I think I'll pick one of the vampire caves, selling the dust is quite profitable. Vampires tend to be easy pickings with a magic bow and 3x sneak bonus.

Originally posted by hagatha: Heck, just about ANYthing is easy with a magic or Deadric bow and some poison of Paralyse and a good sneak bonus! Trouble is, I'm not so happy when something gets back up and sees me.....

The Oblivion gates aren't nearly so easy for me. The opponents there don't tend to die from a single shot and then it starts getting ugly. I need a more effective poison (or perhaps recharging my bow a bit more often?) for them. On the other hand, they've encouraged me to be a *lot* faster reloading that bow.

Had a really bizarre thing happen last night. I was in the market district when suddenly the Guards started attacking something. At first I thought a daedric lizard thing was there, but after the first minute, it looked like the guards were busy attacking each other. That got just too weird for me and I ran for the exit!

Yes, I deleted about 750 game saves last night. Things are running a lot faster now.

In the Oblivion Gates my Deadric bow is still my weapon of choice, but if there is more than one Deadra standing around I absolutely have to use a paralyse potion or at least a damage health or magica potion, and start shooting really really fast. In true cowardly fashion I've also learned to shoot with deadly accuracy from a long, long way away. At one time I made about 15 potions that both paralysed and damaged magica, and they were really effective but I can't remember what I used to make them.

I've been in the market district a few times when all heck broke loose but the ruckus always turns out to be about someone that's carrying a volume of Mythic Dawn commentaries. Don't know why they think it's a smart idead to transform themselves in the middle of a busy distric with soldiers standing around, though. Obviously on suicide missions, or very stupid.

Am wondering.......did one of you dispatch Shum-gro-Yarug at some time or other?

Have been working all the morning on the Lost Histories Quest for the Thieves Guild. Doing it over and over again but this Orc is nowhere he should be. Searched the castle, have turned up at the West Weald Inn at 10am and been in the Colodian Trader at noon. He never turns up. Have a feeling I'm going to get myself put in Jail.

Woe is me.

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Angels are friends who lift you off your feet when your wings have forgotten how to fly.

Last night I spent most of my gaming time selling loot from the Mages Vampire Hunters/feral Vampires quest. I haven't reported to the Count in castle skinguard yet...hope the quest completes correctly. I used 3 of my 4 cure diesase potions and I'm still a human being. whew.

Suddenly I have enough money to think about buying a better house. Early on I bought a very cheap house in Bravil (the only city/house Hagatha left me! ).

Its a shack and the furnishings are trashy thrift shop at best. (My 900+ dollars for kitchen stuff bought me 2 spoons, forks, plates and a covered dish...ball park prices!... and when ever I get home and throw my loot on the floor before jumping into bed to rest all those things fall off the table---its that small of a place!)

BUT I've oddly grown fond of the place...I've got my stuff all organized in the storage and I've put stuff around to see. I know all my nieghbors really well and I know what everyone in town is doing when and who I'll see on my jaunt from the city gate to my home. I've even reloaded or gone back to old saves a couple of times so City Swimmer's pitaful pick pocketing doesn't get her killed by the guards (she dies for a pear...I looked once). Oddly I really have a fondness for the lizard people, even since I saved that kid in Hackenville (Sp?), I just like them when I talk to them.

But sadly I think its time to move on to a new town and see some new sights. A house in every town is my eventual goal, just for fun....but maybe I'll skip Leyawin on you all's advice.

Well, my recommendation would be for the mansion in Anvil, since it's only 5,000 and has an easy quest associated with it. It comes fully and comfortably furnished and has a well-stocked wine cellar, a study and a balcony overlooking the better part of town -- everything the well-heeled adventurer could possibly want. There are some spiders in the basement, though.

Oh - and, you might have a little trouble sleeping that first night in your new bed.